EPA asked to step up monitoring activities
The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Akwasi Opong-Fosu, has directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to step up its monitoring activities to ensure that illegal operations at residential areas are halted.
Advertisement
He said the EPA should collaborate with the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to embark on regular and effective monitoring exercises in residential areas to ensure that activities that did not conform to the EPA guidelines were stopped.
Mr Opong-Fosu gave the directive yesterday when he visited the residence of the Chief of Akyem Techiman, Osabarima Nana Appiah Danso II, at Community 12 in Tema where gunpowder exploded last Wednesday, killing four persons including the chief.
Background
The incident was said to have been caused by gunpowder used for the manufacturing of matches but which had expired and had been stored in an enclosed area of the chief's residence.
The heat in the containers in which the gunpowder was stored was so intense, hence the explosion.
During the visit, it was observed that the debris of the explosion, including pieces of matchbox labels, gallons of paint and other items were scattered around.
Part of the roof of the chief’s residence had been ripped off, while some of the houses near the chief’s residence also had some of their roofs ripped off. A few family members were seen around the house in black cloth mourning the death of the chief.
Report illegal activities
Mr Opong-Fosu, who used the visit to sympathise with the bereaved family, described the incident as a regrettable one.
Other Trending Stories
He said the explosion was a wakeup call for citizenry to abide by the rules and regulations regarding environmental safety.
According to him, although some persons had obtained permits to build residential houses, they engaged in other activities which endanger their safety and health and that of residents in the vicinity.
Such activities, he said, had to be stopped because they threatened human safety and health, adding that residents should report any suspicious cases of people who were engaged in illegal and harmful activities in their areas.
Explaining how far the investigations had gone, the Deputy Executive Director of Operations of EPA, Mr John A. Pawamang, said it was detected that there was ammonia in the containers that exploded.
However, he said, the other chemicals which made the ammonia explode were yet to be ascertained.
He, therefore, called on the public to report any suspected cases of illegal activities to the EPA to follow up because the agency could not go to every house to inspect the premises.
He said it would take the cooperation of the EPA and the public to halt such occurrences.